50 WaysTo Save Your River!

Did you know that only 3% of the Earth's water is fresh-water? And of that 3%, 2/3rds is frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps. That means only 1% of the Earth's freshwater supply is accessible for use! This is why it is so important to conserve the limited amount of water that we do have.

The average American uses 80-100 gallons of water every day, in California we use between 85 and 251 depending on were you live! Nationwide we use twice the global average and in some parts of California we use four times as much. If everybody does a little bit here and there, we will be able to cut down on consumption and preserve this valuable resource and save our rivers. Here is a list of 50+ ways…TO SAVE YOUR RIVER!

3. Insulating your pipes will not only save you money in energy costs, you won’t waste water when you’re waiting for it to heat up.

4. If you accidentally drop an ice cube, don’t throw it down the sink, use it to water a house plant.

5. Collect the water that you run while waiting for the water to reach your desired temperature and use it to water plants. This same idea applies for shower and bath water too!

6. And if you have left over ice from a to-go cup, instead of dumping it down the sink, also use it to water a plant.

7. Buy a reusable water bottle and use it. The production of 1 imported bottle of water uses 6.74 kilograms of water. This is the equivalent of 15 pounds of water, which is close to 2 gallons! Imagine if you drink a bottle every day (way below the recommended amount) that would be 365 days x 2 gallons per bottle= 730 gallons of water a year wasted just in production. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/02/pablo_calculate.php

10. If you have a pool, keep a cover on it when not in use. This will prevent evaporation and keep your pool cleaner. Covering your pool can save up to 250 gallons a week plus the cost that chemicals would have been to clean it more frequently. http://www.sandiego.gov/water/conservation/tips.shtml

11. An easy one is to clear off your driveway and sidewalks by using a broom, instead of the hose.

12. Use cat litter or sand instead of salt on icy walkways. Not only does salt pollute water, but it also kills plants. www.epa.gov

14. Your diet also has a lot to do with water use:A. One pound of beef, enough to feed a family of four requires 1,799 gallons of water.B. One hamburger needs 660 gallons to produce it.C. One pound of chicken involves 468 gallons of water in production.D. One gallon of coffee calls for 880 gallons of water. If every person in the world drank one cup of coffee every morning that would be 32 trillion gallons of water lost a year!E. One pound of chocolate uses 3,170 gallons in production. One Hershey bar is .1 pounds, so the production of only 10 Hershey’s bars uses 3,170 gallons.

19. Take a shower instead of a bath. Baths use up to 70 gallons of water while showers can use as little as 10-25. If you do take a bath, make sure to plug the drain first and then adjust the temperature from there. You can always fill it up with hotter water to compensate for the cold at first.

20. Replace your current showerhead with a low-flow model. The low-flows use 2.3 gallons of water per minute versus the old shower heads which use 6. This saves about 35 gallons of water in a 10 minute shower, and if you take one every day or every other day that’s a savings of 6,388-12,775 gallons a year. The cost of a low-flow showerhead ranges from $40-$90. A range of 6,388 gallons to12,775 gallons a year is a lot for your water bill to take, $40-$90 is well worth the relatively inexpensive cost. http://www.lowes.com/cd_Install+Low+Flow+Shower+Heads+and+Aerators_134043203_

26. Install a water displacement device in the back of your toilet so less water is used. Put a plastic bottle or jug back there. When placing it make sure that it does not prevent any of the parts from working.

28. Your lawn only needs watering every 5-7 days in the summer and 10-14 in the winter. Plus a heavy rain eliminates the need to water for 2 weeks. Every day and every other day is just excessive and is drowning your lawn. They also sell devices that shut off your sprinkler system after rain; buying one of those will help you save money on your water bill, and conserve water! http://www.americanwater.com/49ways.php

33. Raise your lawnmower blade to 3”. This allows the grass’ roots to grow deeper, while also shading the root system and helping the soil hold in moisture better. http://www.americanwater.com/49ways.php

34. Find out about the grey-water regulations in your city. By using grey-water (which is the water from your showers, baths, sinks, laundry…) to water your lawn, you will drastically cut down on water consumption and the cost of water. If you end up doing this make sure you use soaps and detergents that are intended for this type of use.

36. The next time your sprinklers are running go outside and take a look at where they are hitting. If they are hitting the street, sidewalk, or any area that is not your lawn adjust them. There’s no need to water the cement. http://simplesapien.com/40-ways-to-conserve-water/

37. Plant your garden in the fall when it is cooler outside and there is more rainfall.

42. Better yet, have your car washed at a car wash where they recycle the water, not only are you saving that water but you are saving the nearby river from dirty runoff. If this is not an option, water your car on the grass, you will get the benefits of: watering your lawn, saving water and saving money, all at once. http://www.americanwater.com/49ways.php

The Green Hornets are a group of socially and environmentally
conscious middle school students in Daly City who are undertaking a project
with their city’s government to help promote water conservation to their
greater community.

Abby Ellis is a political science major at the University of California, Davis class of 2012. She plans on working closely with environmental policy in the future. She loves to backpack and go camping with friends, so following the “Out in the Wild” section is important to her, and of course all the others.

Jesus Rodriguez is a junior in South El Monte High Shool. He would love to one day return and become part of the staff for Friends of the River. He believes in everything this organization works so hard to do.

Now that you know how to save your river, go out and enjoy it!

Go boating, rafting, kayaking, fishing, hiking or any number of fun activities that take place near and around your river. Go to our California River pagesto find a river near you to explore!